advantage of was Job
Corps and the TCU/
IAM Advanced Training program. I
personally think it is a great program and if
you get the chance to attend don't let it go
to waste. At times it
was hard and I wanted to leave, but the best things
in life are hard to reach and takes time to achieve.
You have to be willing to put the time and effort in
to go where you want in
life. So remember, yourself and TCU/IAM equals a
better you and life if you are willing to work for it!”
In 2009, three
TCU/IAM Advanced
Training locations- Excelsior Springs,
Gary and St Louis, began implementing a
rigorous Carman/Machinist program in
addition to the
traditional training program. Students who
have completed the Job Corps welding trade may
apply. Brian Melero, a Bamberg JCC transfer, was
the first Carman/Machinist
program completer at St. Louis TCU/IAM. He began
employment with Amtrak in September 2009 as a
carman making $24.94 an
hour plus great benefits.
Over a year later, Brian, is still on the job, has earned
about $60,000 this year and says “As a mechanic for
Amtrak I use many different tools everyday, but the first
tool I had to use and take
First Carman Graduate from St. Louis Carman/Machinist Program
Potomac Students Visit GreenGov Symposium
TCU/IAM Advanced Training
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 1 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3
Contact one of our Regional
Coordinators for more info: Steve Brando National Coordinator
[email protected] David Kollewe
San Francisco and Dallas Regions [email protected] (530) 346-6071
Nicole Burnett Atlanta and
Chicago Regions [email protected] (770) 603-9033
Oscar Derderian, Jr. Philadelphia and
Boston Regions [email protected] (978) 897-7900
Visit our website at http://tcu.jobcorps.gov
International President Robert A. Scardelletti
International Vice President David L. Steele
Senior Executive Director Diane J. Dettmann
panel speaker for the
workshop Training and
How “Green” Grows Jobs. Panel members
discussed emerging “green collar” jobs and
how every company will be eventually affected by
green technology.
National Director Primrose discussed Job
Corps role in training young adults and
preparing them for up and coming positions in
green industries. When questioned on the
diversity of Job Corps training for careers, Edna
Primrose mentioned the TCU/IAM Advanced
Training program as an
example of students learning not only about
the transportation skills but also being cross
trained in computer and administrative skills to
help them climb their
career success ladders.
Brian Melero at the Amtrak Ivy City yard,
Washington, DC
Potomac students David Owens
and Shaneek Buckler attended
the 2010 GreenGov Symposium where National Director of Job
Corps Edna Primrose was a
David Owens (left) and Shaneek Buckler
with National Director Edna Primrose
P A G E 2
T C U / I A M A D V A N C E D T R A I N I N G
BOSTON REGION
Exeter: 2 Glenmont: 1 Hartford: 1
Northlands: 1 Oneonta: 2 Westover: 4
SAN FRANCISCO
REGION Columbia Basin: 1
Hawaii: 1
Inland Empire: 3 Long Beach: 2 Timber Lake: 1 Tongue Point: 2
Treasure Island: 2
PHILADELPHIA REGION
Charleston: 1 Earle C. Clements: 1
Flatwoods: 1 Harpers Ferry: 1
Keystone: 2 Muhlenberg: 1
Old Dominion: 2 Pine Knot: 3 Red Rock: 1 Woodland: 2
Woodstock: 2
DALLAS REGION
Cass: 1 Kicking Horse: 3
ATLANTA REGION
Bamberg: 2 Brunswick: 1 Gadsden: 1
Gainesville: 2 Jacksonville: 3
Jacobs Creek: 1 Miami: 1
Mississippi: 1 Montgomery: 1
Turner: 1
CHICAGO REGION
Atterbury: 1 Denison: 1 Golconda: 3 Pine Ridge: 1
TRANSPORTATION
PLACEMENT
HIGHLIGHTS
DIONTE DURHAM
&
ERIC MEREDITH
Gary TCU/IAM
Amtrak
Coach Cleaner
$15.01hr
JORGE GUZMAN
Shriver TCU/IAM
Amtrak
Coach Cleaner
$15.01/hr
ADAM ORICK
Excelsior Springs TCU/IAM
Midwest Railcar Repair
Carman
$14.75hr
RAY HARRIS
San Jose TCU/IAM
Greyhound Bus Lines
Ticket Clerk
$10.50/hr
ERIC JENKINS
Atlanta TCU/IAM
Amtrak
Train Attendant
$10.95/hr
ANGELA GRIFFIN
Humphrey TCU/IAM
Canadian Pacific
Conductor Trainee
$18.48hr
EDWARD ANDOLINA
Potomac TCU/IAM
Air Wisconsin
Ramp Agent
$9.74/hr
WILLIAM FLETCHER
Los Angeles TCU/IAM
Amtrak
Coach Cleaner
$15.01/hr
TCU/IAM Transferred 64 Students this Quarter!
San Jose TCU/IAM’s Student’s Careers
Soar with the Airlines!
Jeremy Barnes SkyWest Ramp Agent
San Francisco International Airport
Jeremy transferred into the program in
May 2008 from Timber Lake CCC. He
graduated from TCU/IAM in July 2009
and is currently working as a Full Time
Ramp Agent with SkyWest Airlines at
SFO Airport. Jeremy just came back
from concert-hopping around the U.S.
and recently became eligible for
transfer opportunities!
Manuel Minter Transportation Security Agent
Sacramento International Airport
Manuel, a Treasure Island JCC transfer,
entered the TCU/IAM program in
September 2009 and completed training
in August 2010. He is currently serving
at the Sacramento International Airport
as a TSA securing all departing flights.
P A G E 3
Norfolk Southern
Railroad has employed
36 TCU/IAM students
from Program Years
2001—2010
Average starting wage
was $14.47an hour
Students were placed
as Yard Clerks, Crew
Dispatchers, CYO
Clerks, Conductors,
Assistant Conductors,
Yard Workers, and
Operations Clerks
Mitchell Weaver giving Oneckia Davis an overview of the Norfolk Southern’s website.
In October, three students from Atlanta TCU/IAM were hired at Norfolk Southern in
Atlanta, Georgia as Central Yard Operations Clerks (CYO), thanks to some assistance from a former TCU/IAM student and current employee of Norfolk Southern, Mitchell Weaver, who is also a CYO. CYO’s are responsible for performing administrative work involving customer and train crew communications.
When several openings for CYO’s opened up at Norfolk Southern, Mitchell contacted Atlanta TCU/IAM’s LFER Dianne Rogers, and offered to come over on his “off day”, to speak to students about his career with Norfolk Southern and the
opportunities with the company. Mitchell is a great example of a TCU/IAM Alumni reaching back and helping others who are in the program that helped him get on track with his career!
Atlanta TCU/IAM Getting Student’s on the Track
to Successful Careers at Norfolk Southern!
T C U / I A M A D V A N C E D T R A I N I N G
Kimberly Harris enrolled at the Atlanta Job Corps
Center in October of 2009 and was also a
completer of the Business Finance trade before
coming to the TCU/IAM program in February of
2010. Upon completing her training in October, she
was placed with Norfolk Southern as a Central Yard
Operations Clerk earning $23.35 per hour. “I really
like my job at Norfolk Southern,” Kimberly states,
“and I hope to make a career here. I already see the
potential for advancement. I am grateful to TCU/
IAM for giving me this opportunity."
Mackeia Anderson completed Business
Technology at the Atlanta JCC prior to enrolling
in the TCU/IAM program in October of 2008.
Upon completing her training in the program in
October, Kimberly was placed with Norfolk
Southern as a Central Yard Operations (CYO)
Clerk earning $23.35 per hour. Mackeia, who
was in training longer than her two coworkers,
said she almost gave up. “I had been in TCU/IAM
for two years and my time in Job Corps was
about to expire. My advice to other students is
to hang in there—it will pay off!”
Oneckia Davis enrolled at the Atlanta Job Corps
Center in December of 2009 in the Business and
Finance trade, after completing in April of this
year. She decided to enroll in the TCU/IAM
Program to further her training. She completed
training and was placed with Norfolk Southern as
a Central Yard Operations Clerk earning $23.35
per hour. Oneckia said when she came to TCU/
IAM, “I stayed very focused on the reason I was
there, which was to get a transportation job. I
completed the program and had a job within six
months."
Tashina Thomas was hired as a Coach Cleaner
for the Auto Train in Lorton in August
of 2007 making $12.12 an hour. She started
her career with Amtrak in a Work Based
Learning Internship while in TCU/IAM. Tashina
did such an amazing job during her first year
POTOMAC TCU/IAM SUCCESS
T C U / I A M A D V A N C E D T R A I N I N G
that she was tapped to start the enrollment process for
Assistant Conductor and by August of 2008 she started
her nine week training and soon after began working in
Washington, D.C. as an Assistant Conductor making
over $19 an hour. Just one year after that, in August of
2009, she was promoted to the position of Conductor
where she currently makes $25.62 an hour. She went on
to tell the TCU/IAM students that "Sometimes you have
to be that person, the one that stays late, cleans that
extra toilet, helps coworkers out by cleaning an area that
may not be yours to help get through the night faster.
Someone is going to see that. It's going to get noticed."
Tashina said she never thought in a million years that she
would be where she is today. Tashina has also come back
to the TCU/IAM Advanced Training Program at Potomac
and works part time giving back to the students that are
sitting in the seats she sat in not long ago.
P A G E 4
Transportation Industries On Board With the Green Movement
Amtrak’s Auto Train has
the capacity to hold up to
370 vehicles per train. It emits only about half the
greenhouse gasses that would
be emitted if all the cars
being transported were driven on the highway.
Norfolk Southern also is
implementing sustainable
operations throughout its
facilities. This includes the use of the state-of-the-art
low emission cranes and
tractors that will reduce the
particulate emissions by 90%and nitrogen oxide emissions
by 45%.
Southwest Airlines recycles
all cabin waste. It was, also, the first airline to use electronic
ticketing which cut down on
paper consumption.
United Airlines published
guidelines in their facilities to promote and enhance
recycling, incineration and
other responsible waste
disposal methods to divert waste from landfills. They also
use cleaning chemicals that carry
the Design for the Environment
label which was established by the Environmental Protection
Agency.
Our employer partners in the railroad and airline industries are making conscious efforts to take environmentally
safe measures in everyday operations. The industries recognize the seriousness of their impact on the environment
and are continually taking great strides towards doing their part in cleaning up and protecting it.
Passenger & Freight Railroads Airlines
Union Pacific’s operating
equipment for fueling and
maintenance have automatic fuel-nozzle shutoffs to prevent
overflows, drip pans to catch
any spills and separators to
remove oil from wastewater. UP also uses concrete to make
crossties, which makes them more
durable, resulting in less maintenance. Track ties that are no
longer needed are refurbished and
used elsewhere in the UP system.
Canadian Pacific equipped over
80% of their locomotives with
some form of anti-idling devices which will shut down the trains
to conserve fuel under certain
operating conditions.
Tashina Thomas, a Potomac TCU/IAM graduate, returned
to campus to speak to current students in the program.